Lucknam Park

Jackie: We want to talk about David’s Lucknam Park fantasy visit. He can’t stop ranting about it! I was home holding the fort (and minding the taxes!). It’s making me need to return to England, just for my own mystical memories of Lucknam Park.
David: In that special part of the world known as The United Kingdom, there is a spot that is beyond “special.” It rests contentedly in Wiltshire in a village called Colerne, just minutes away from the Roman town of Bath. The “spot” I refer to is a kingdom unto itself, Lucknam Park Hotel, a five-star luxury Relais & Châteaux Country House, which reigns over 500 acres of listed parklands and exceptional gardens. This was my first visit to this celebrated hotel, a stately manor house in the Palladian-style, dating from 1720. Lucknam Park was a private home until 1987 when, fortunately for the lucky guests including myself, it became the elegant hotel, spa and equestrian center it is today; beautifully-restored and fitted for the 21st century, earning the AA five red stars and the Visit Britain Gold Award.
I was immediately checked in and escorted to The Tower Room. Wow! Enormous with a corner location, great windows overlooking the front of the hotel with its tree-lined drive, and on the side a lovely garden.
The accommodation was all antique mahogany furniture, including the most comfortable four poster bed raised about three feet up, and with a silken pleated canopy. A glamorous crystal chandelier and Wi-Fi! One lovely dresser boasted a button which caused a large flat screen TV to rise up for viewing. If this room is “yesterday” (but beautifully up-dated), then the bath is “tomor-row” – all elegant marble, two of almost everything, sinks across from each other, a heated floor extending into an enormous open area with two showers facing each other. It does take two to tango! (JJ, why were you at home?) A discreet knock on the door, and in comes a waiter bearing a gift of fruit, chocolates and Ruinart champagne from the generous and thoughtful General Manager, Harry Murray. Later, when I thanked him, I had just emerged from his new spa where I swam in a football field sized indoor pool with a marble wall housing a 20-foot long open gas fire. At the end of the indoor whirlpool, a button caused the glass wall to slide back, allowing me to swim into the outdoor section of the steaming bath. I told Harry his spa will delight my wife when I return with her to this bit of heaven. He is justly proud of this recent addition to Lucknam Park, and well he should be. Obviously, Harry uses the spa himself; he is a fitness model, a runner and trim, slim and always superbly dressed.

Lucknam Parks’ state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor spa.

Next morning, after a delicious breakfast, I drove to nearby Castle Combe, the village that so delighted me years ago that I named my production company after it. Just as charming and magical as ever! Then back to Shangri-La (Lucknam Park) for another delightful visit to the spa. Shower, dress and off to the bar, and then the Michelin-starred Park Restaurant and the magic of Executive Chef Hywel Jones. First, a lovely St. Émilion. Then, after the amuse-bouche of wild garlic velouté with herb gnocchi, I started with roasted Scottish scallops accompanied by tiny brandade fritters and tinier carrots… followed happily by a specially-prepared salad of baby tomatoes, rocket and avocado chunks… then succulent pink venison with butternut squash, sage risotto fritters and apple and sloe gin sauce… and a grand finale of olive oil pistachio cake cubes with roasted cherries and yogurt sorbet. I managed to finish my wine. Manfully, I staggered to my room, quite drunk. Not from the wine, from the astonishing feast.
Jackie: OK. I’m eager, it’s gor-geous territory. I know Bath (also close to Stonehenge). I’m ready for Lucknam Park, the spa (and the showers).
David: One day, all this, dear readers, could be yours! Wish upon a star, and we’ll travel…

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The Tolucan Times is a free weekly community newspaper, published since 1937 and available online. With over 600 drop locations throughout the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys from Encino to Pasadena, The Tolucan Times serves the communities of Glendale, Flintridge La Canada, Burbank, North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and Van Nuys, to list a few.